White House Recruits Veterans to Replace Immigrant Truckers Who Lost CDLs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ The Trump administration is encouraging veterans to enter the trucking industry after tens of thousands of immigrant drivers lost commercial licenses during a federal crackdown. The “Freedom Haulers” campaign will promote skills-test waivers, military transition programs and GI Bill funding for commercial driver training. Trucking companies welcomed the plan, while immigrant advocates and several states continue challenging parts of the administration’s enforcement policies.
Quick Look
- The White House wants more veterans to become commercial truck drivers.
- The “Freedom Haulers” campaign was launched Friday.
- Some veterans can skip the CDL skills test based on military driving experience.
- Active-duty personnel can attend driving school during their final six months of service.
- The GI Bill can cover 100% of eligible CDL training costs.
- Some veterans may also qualify for a housing allowance.
- About 26,000 drivers were removed for failing English-proficiency checks.
- Another 30,000 licenses were canceled as allegedly issued unlawfully.
- California and New York are fighting threatened federal funding cuts in court.
- Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina have also received warnings.
- Immigrants make up approximately 20% of U.S. truck drivers.
- Non-domiciled licenses represent about 5% of all commercial licenses.
- More than 40,000 veterans have already used the military skills-test waiver.
- The Transportation Department says truckers earn an average of $70,000 annually.
Deep Look
White House Promotes Trucking Careers for Veterans
The Trump administration is launching an effort to recruit former service members into commercial trucking after thousands of immigrant drivers lost their licenses through stricter federal enforcement.
The “Freedom Haulers” campaign will highlight existing programs that can shorten the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license, or CDL.
It will form part of a broader interagency employment initiative for veterans that the White House plans to announce Monday.
Some Veterans Can Skip Driving Skills Test
Veterans who recently operated large military vehicles may be allowed to bypass the standard CDL skills examination.
To qualify, former service members must have driven military vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tons.
They must still study commercial driving regulations and pass the written CDL examination.
The government says more than 40,000 veterans have already used the waiver, allowing some to begin civilian trucking work within weeks.
Active-Duty Troops Can Begin Training Early
Military personnel who do not qualify for the skills-test waiver can attend commercial driving school during their final six months of active service.
The arrangement is intended to reduce unemployment gaps by allowing service members to prepare for civilian jobs before leaving the military.
The Transportation Department plans to coordinate with the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to promote trucking as a career.
Officials say it may appeal to veterans seeking independence and outdoor or mobile work instead of office employment.
GI Bill Can Cover CDL Training
Veterans who served for at least three years may use GI Bill benefits to pay for CDL instruction.
For eligible veterans, the program can cover 100% of training expenses.
Some may also qualify for a housing stipend while attending commercial driving school.
The Transportation Department said truck drivers currently earn an average of approximately $70,000 per year as freight capacity tightens and shipping rates increase.
Campaign Follows Immigration Enforcement Crackdown
The Transportation Department began strictly enforcing existing English-language requirements for truck drivers during the summer of 2025.
Concern over licensing intensified after an August crash in Florida in which a truck driver made an illegal U-turn, killing three people.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the driver, an immigrant from India, should not have received a commercial license.
Audits Find Licensing Problems
Federal audits in every state identified non-domiciled commercial licenses that remained valid after drivers’ work authorization expired.
The audits also found licenses allegedly issued without proper verification of immigration or citizenship documentation.
The Transportation Department said approximately 26,000 drivers were removed from the road because they could not demonstrate sufficient English proficiency.
It said another 30,000 commercial licenses were canceled because they had been issued illegally.
States Face Threatened Funding Cuts
The federal government has attempted to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding from California and New York.
The administration accused both states of failing to follow federal requirements and revoke thousands of additional licenses.
Those disputes are now being litigated.
Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina have also been warned that they could lose transportation funding if federal officials determine they are not complying.
Duffy Says Campaign Will Improve Safety
Duffy said the administration is strengthening the trucking industry by removing drivers it considers unqualified and encouraging former service members to take their places.
“We are removing more and more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads every day and restoring the integrity of America’s trucking industry,” Duffy said.
“Our new Freedom Haulers campaign will help build on these successes and get the word out that there’s never been a better time for America’s former service members to get behind the wheel of a big rig.”
Trucking Companies Welcome Veterans
The trucking industry has supported efforts to remove unqualified drivers and close fraudulent CDL schools.
Companies also welcomed the new veteran recruitment campaign.
Werner Enterprises Chairman and CEO Derek Leathers said veterans already constitute 15% of the company’s workforce.
“Veterans make up 15% of our workforce and bring the highest levels of leadership, discipline and technical skills that are essential to our success. We are dedicated to providing them with meaningful careers and a supportive environment where they can thrive,” Leathers said.
Employers Praise Military Experience
Cole Stevens, chief strategy officer of Stevens Transport, said military experience prepares veterans for the demands of commercial driving.
“Some of the best drivers and industry leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with are military veterans,” Stevens said.
“Their integrity, accountability, and mission-first mindset make them an incredible asset.”
New Immigrant CDL Rules Face Lawsuits
Beyond enforcing existing regulations, the administration plans to restrict which immigrants can receive non-domiciled commercial licenses.
It also wants applicants to take CDL examinations in English.
Those rules are being challenged in court and have not been fully resolved.
Under the administration’s plan, eligible non-domiciled applicants would generally be limited to holders of H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visas.
H-2A visas cover temporary agricultural workers, while H-2B visas are for temporary nonagricultural employment. E-2 visas are available to qualifying investors in American businesses.
Immigrants Hold Significant Share of Trucking Jobs
Immigrants account for approximately 20% of all truck drivers in the United States.
However, non-domiciled immigrant licenses represent only about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses—approximately 200,000 drivers.
The distinction means most immigrant truckers do not hold the type of license targeted by the administration’s new restrictions.
Immigrant Groups Allege Unfair Targeting
Some immigrant organizations say qualified drivers are being unfairly targeted by the crackdown.
Sikh truckers have received particular scrutiny because the drivers involved in the Florida crash and another fatal California collision were Sikh.
Advocacy groups argue that the actions of individual drivers should not be used to stigmatize a broader religious or immigrant community.
The administration maintains that its policy is focused on road safety, licensing compliance and lawful work authorization.
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